Navigating the Dynamic Global Landscape with the Aid of Computational Thinking and STEM in Education

Computational Thinking in Education and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are important in helping us to navigate the dynamic global landscape, said Education Minister Mr Chan Chun Sing.

In a virtual address to an audience of about 400 international and local attendees at the opening of the 5^th APSCE International Conference on Computational Thinking and STEM Education (CTE-STEM 2021) on 2 June 2021, Mr Chan said, “Computational Thinking and STEM are even more relevant today because we want our youth to be able to come up with approaches and strategies to solve the complex problems that are faced by our society.” 

He shared that all upper primary students in Singapore have now the chance to learn about computational thinking and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), through enrichment programmes such as the Code for Fun.

Mr Chan also highlighted the significance of STEM to the development of Singapore.

“STEM has always been at the core of Singapore’s development. To prepare our younger generation to thrive in an increasingly uncertain post-COVID future, we need to strengthen the interests and capabilities of students in STEM,” he said.

Affiliated to the Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education and hosted by the National Institute of Education, the CTE-STEM 2021 was held from 2 - 4 June 2021. The virtual conference attracted researchers and teachers from 21 countries and regions including Sweden, China, US, Finland, Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Peru, Lithuania and Singapore.

NTU President, Prof Subra Suresh, delivered the opening address for this conference. He stressed the need to address society’s grand and unseen challenges through interdisciplinary approaches.

One highlight of the conference was the highly esteemed panel discussion that involved the senior leaders of all six local autonomous universities, namely, National University of Singapore, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore Management University, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and Nanyang Technological University. The panelists shared their respective universities’ plans and reflections for infusing computational thinking, digital literacy and AI readiness as part of their holistic university education.

Prof Christine Goh, NIE Director and the moderator of the panel, remarked, “The universities are reviewing and revising their curricula to prepare our graduates to be future-ready for a future that is increasingly digitized and automated. This will help prepare the graduates to be leaders that will address some of the grand challenges we collectively faced.”

The conference also featured a Student Forum, BuildingBloCS, which was organised by  students, for students. The forum included a series of workshops, lightning labs, programming puzzles, pop quizzes, engagement talks, and games.